Breaking Down the Language of MATH for ELLs!

To support ELLs in accessing math content and language, teachers will need to do quite a bit of language clarification.  Some of this will entail the rewriting of questions from passive voice (ex.  16 subtracted from 32 equals 16) to active voice (32 minus 16 equals 16).  Other situations will entail words with multiple meanings such as GROSS.  In conversation it means disgusting, but in math, it means total income from sales. 

If ELLs try dictionary definitions, they will be lost.  Instead, this paper from NYU School of Education addresses how to make the language of math problems accessible through a variety of ways.  First, wall charts that have vivid easy to follow definitions to assist students in determining the correct usage.  Then there are graphic organizers such as venn-diagrams where, math "pictures" with their labels could be laid out in such a way as to show ELLs differences and similarities (difference:  rhombus, square, rectangle---similarity:  all 3 have 4 sides).  Of course, there is also the need to highlight key vocabulary students need to know to be able to figure out what is being asked of them.  With a document camera or an iPad, this can be done with ease.  To build this skill, have paper handouts with word problems on them, have them highlight must-know words (with ERASABLE HIGHLIGHTERS), and then discuss meanings.  If they highlighted the wrong words, they can erase them--no waste of paper for you and no loss of confidence for them.  One of the strongest ways to support them is to have them keep math journals (inexpensive composition books will do here).  They will note everything they learn there as well as problems they encountered and then solved.  With a record to refer to in doing future problems, they are not starting from ground zero.


There are many more ideas here along with additional website resources (majority are free, but not all).  Save the PDF in your DropBox folder and refer to it as needed.  Think of it as a free e-book on math:)
ELLS+MATHEMATICS

Denise


ELL TEACHER PROS

OfficeMax Pen Style Chisel Tip Erasable Highlighters, 5 Colored
Composition Book, 7 1/2" x 9 3/4", Wde Ruled

More on Khan Academy--An Outstanding Academic Resource for ALL Students Including ELLs!

Imagine the possibility of students doing the "classwork" at home and the "homework" in school:)  In some schools, this already being done through Khan Academy!  Students work on assignments at home through Khan Tutorials.  These videos are typically about 15 minutes long and are followed by practice.  The system keeps track of progress so the teacher can monitor quality of student work with ease.  Such insight permits the teacher to quickly discern who needs more coaching the next day in class and how much.  For students who seem to have mastered the assigned skill, the teacher can send them on to more complex projects or concepts.  Again, everything the students do, the teacher can track on her/his computer.  Some schools are even keeping their computer labs open late so that ALL children can work with the system.  The passing rates for academically struggling students has improved dramatically for these schools.

Would you like to know more about Sal Khan and how Khan Academy came into existence?  See his interview on 60 Minutes.  60 MINUTES INTERVIEW WITH SAL KHAN  He lives in the Silicon Valley and records his lessons right from his home.  For subject areas he hasn't seen in quite a while, he gets a few textbooks to brush up on the content before he does the videos.  His voice is easy to listen to and his notes on the black screen are in color and easy to follow.

For information on the layout of Khan Academy, see this link:   INFORMATION ABOUT KHAN ACADEMY  Here teachers are provided guidance in setting up assignments and monitoring student progress.  Students earn badges as they successfully complete lessons.  In fact, teachers can even add smiley faces if they like:)  It is amazing how much things as simple as badges can motivate students. 

KHAN DASHBOARD Explores KNOWLEDGE MAPS and how they keep track of progress.  Teachers or students select the area they wish to study (go to SEARCH and enter the subject to be studied).  As students answer questions correctly in the practice, they earn badges.  If they enter the wrong answers, they can watch a video tutorial on how to find the answer.  Imagine how powerful it is for students to have access to immediate tutoring as they encounter problems as opposed to waiting for the next day to see the teacher.


LIBRARY OF OVER 3000 INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS
Here is the current list of all instructional videos on file.  More are being added in new content areas regularly.

Sign up!  It is free.  If you have computers in your classroom, have your students sign up.  They will develop a new self-confidence in their abilities to do math (at any level):)

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS

Model FX-300MS Scientific Calculator, 10x2 Display - Calculators
Asus TF300T-B1-BL Tablet PC

Khan Academy--114 Geometry Videos To Support Your Instruction

If you are looking to develop more review support in your math classes for your ELLs and others, you should take a look at Khan Academy.  It covers all areas of mathematics and science.  The videos are simple to follow and clearly would support a teacher's instruction.  Further, if you have ELLs in your classes, you can find translations in every subject.  Imagine having a newly arrived Mandarin only speaker and offering this site as a tool to access the content of your lesson.  The anxiety level of that ELL would definitely drop since he or she would not be totally in the dark in following your activity.  KHAN LANGUAGES lists all the languages available on the site.

For this post, I pulled out only one subject area--KHAN ACADEMY GEOMETRY.  Within this section are 114 videos all on geometry.  The total viewing time is slightly over 15 hours.  Though the amount of time on each subject component varies, they typically do not exceed 10 minutes more or less.  Access to the site is free and open to anyone.  Since ELLs typically need to jump two hurdles academically--language and content, they would benefit from such online support because it would provide them with additional practice in mastering the content.

Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS

PS  If you use CHROME as your browser, you may have a problem accessing my blog.  What you should do is ENTER the site (ignore the warnings--for some reason it has a problem with WORDPRESS BLOGS---and then bookmark it.  Once bookmarked, the problem is fixed:)

FREE Video Support and More in BASIC Math THROUGH Calculus:)

If you have your own website or a blog for your students in your math class, you might want to add this one. The videos are delivered through engaging teachers who really seem to enjoy all phases of math instruction. If you want kids to develop an interest in math, you need to be enthusiastic about it. Teacher enthusiasm about her/his subject can be quite infectious:)

This site could be that extra support for those (especially ELLs) who need more time to process the information. Students can watch them at home as often as they like for free. If browsing for videos doesn't offer exactly what you want, check by book. Click on the copy you are using in your class, and all the videos will be listed in the order that they appear in the textbook.

Students can also input problems on their own if they need help in solving them, but they will only receive the answer. If they need the steps that take you to the answer, there is a fee. However, students can always bring the problem to class where the problem could be solved in class either in small groups or whole class discussion.

Students can also get help from the MATH HELP forum. Immediate answer only responses are free.


BRIGHTSTORM -- free support for your math classes:)

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS